Manual of Accounting 2019

Manual of Accounting and Financial Reporting for Pennsylvania Local Educational Agencies

(LEAs)

Revised September 2021

Maintained by: PA Office of the Budget Office of Comptroller Operations Central Agencies & School Finance Unit

LEAs are encouraged to forward any recommendations for this manual to: RA-SchlFin@

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 6

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 PURPOSE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 HISTORY ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7

ORGANIZATIONS INSTRUMENTAL IN LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING & REPORTING........7 GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (GAAP) AND THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (GASB) .......................................................................................................................................................9

THE HIERARCHY OF GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES ................................................................... 10 BASIC GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................... 11

Chapter 2: Types of Local Educational Agencies and Summary of Funding............................................. 19

TYPES OF LEAS......................................................................................................................................................19 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.................................................................................................................................................... 19 CHARTER & CYBER CHARTER SCHOOLS .................................................................................................................... 19 AREA VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOLS................................................................................................................ 20 INTERMEDIATE UNITS............................................................................................................................................... 22

LEA REVENUE AND FUNDING SOURCES ................................................................................................................ 23 LOCAL FUNDING ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 STATE FUNDING........................................................................................................................................................ 23 FEDERAL FUNDING ................................................................................................................................................... 26 MISCELLANEOUS....................................................................................................................................................... 26

PASS-THROUGH GRANTS......................................................................................................................................27

Chapter 3: Overview of Fund Accounting............................................................................................... 28

THE GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT......................................................................................................................28 FUND ACCOUNTING.................................................................................................................................................. 28

GOVERNMENT-WIDE AND FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ................................................................................... 29 CATEGORIES AND TYPES OF FUNDS ...................................................................................................................... 29

GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS .......................................................................................................................................... 29 PROPRIETARY FUNDS................................................................................................................................................ 30 FIDUCIARY FUNDS..................................................................................................................................................... 31 MEASUREMENT FOCUS ........................................................................................................................................ 32

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BASIS OF ACCOUNTING ........................................................................................................................................ 33 RECOGNITION OF NONEXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS .............................................................................................. 35 INTERFUND ACTIVITY ........................................................................................................................................... 38

RECIPROCAL INTERFUND ACTIVITY........................................................................................................................... 38 NONRECIPROCAL INTERFUND ACTIVITY ................................................................................................................... 39 DUE TO/DUE FROM .................................................................................................................................................. 40

Chapter 4 ............................................................................................................................................... 42

GOVERNMENTAL FUND OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................... 42 NATURE AND PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................................ 42 NUMBER OF FUNDS.................................................................................................................................................. 42 BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND MEASUREMENT FOCUS.............................................................................................. 42 GOVERNMENTAL FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ................................................................................................... 42

TYPES OF GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS.......................................................................................................................46 GENERAL FUND......................................................................................................................................................... 46 SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS......................................................................................................................................... 52 CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS........................................................................................................................................ 53 DEBT SERVICE FUNDS ............................................................................................................................................... 55 PERMANENT FUNDS ................................................................................................................................................. 56

Chapter 5: Proprietary Funds................................................................................................................. 57

PROPRIETARY FUND OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................... 57 NATURE AND PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................................ 57 BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND MEASUREMENT FOCUS.............................................................................................. 57 PROPRIETARY FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS......................................................................................................... 57

TYPES OF PROPRIETARY FUNDS............................................................................................................................59 ENTERPRISE FUNDS .................................................................................................................................................. 59 INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS........................................................................................................................................ 61

Chapter 6: Fiduciary Funds .................................................................................................................... 65

FIDUCIARY FUND OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................ 65 NATURE AND PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................................ 65 FIDUCIARY FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.............................................................................................................. 65 BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND MEASUREMENT FOCUS.............................................................................................. 66

TYPES OF FIDUCIARY FUNDS.................................................................................................................................66

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TRUST FUNDS............................................................................................................................................................ 66 CUSTODIAL FUNDS.................................................................................................................................................... 67

Chapter 7: Investments, Inventory, and Capital Assets .......................................................................... 69

CASH AND INVESTMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 69 CASH EQUIVALENTS .................................................................................................................................................. 69 INVESTMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................... 69

INVENTORY .......................................................................................................................................................... 71 CONSUMPTION METHOD ......................................................................................................................................... 71 PURCHASE METHOD ................................................................................................................................................. 71

CAPITAL ASSETS ...................................................................................................................................................72 INFRASTRUCTURE TANGIBLE ASSETS ....................................................................................................................... 73 INTANGIBLE ASSETS .................................................................................................................................................. 73 ACCOUNTING FOR CAPITAL ASSETS.......................................................................................................................... 73 VALUATION OF CAPITAL ASSETS............................................................................................................................... 74 CAPITALIZING ASSETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ......................................................................................................... 75 DEPRECIATION OF CAPITAL ASSETS .......................................................................................................................... 75 MODIFIED APPROACH TO DEPRECIATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS ................................................................ 76 IMPAIRMENTS OF ASSETS AND INSURANCE RECOVERIES........................................................................................ 77

Chapter 8: Debt ..................................................................................................................................... 78

DEBT OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................................................78 SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 78 LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 78 GENERAL LONG-TERM DEBT..................................................................................................................................... 78

DEBT TYPES ..........................................................................................................................................................78 BONDS ...................................................................................................................................................................... 78 ANTICIPATION NOTES ............................................................................................................................................... 79 LEASES....................................................................................................................................................................... 80

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS REGARDING BONDS........................................................................................................81 DEBT SERVICE ........................................................................................................................................................... 81 DEEP DISCOUNT DEBT .............................................................................................................................................. 81 DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS ............................................................................................................................................. 82 PREMIUMS AND DISCOUNTS.................................................................................................................................... 82 CALL PROVISIONS...................................................................................................................................................... 82

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DEBT EXTINGUISHMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 82 DEBT EXTINGUISHMENT USING CURRENT FINANCIAL RESOURCES ......................................................................... 82 ACCOUNTING FOR EXTINGUISHMENTS OF DEBT USING EXISTING RESOURCES ...................................................... 83 DEBT REFUNDINGS ................................................................................................................................................... 83

ACCOUNTING FOR DEBT ISSUES ........................................................................................................................... 84 GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS .......................................................................................................................................... 84 PROPRIETARY FUNDS................................................................................................................................................ 84 REPORTING DEBT...................................................................................................................................................... 84

Chapter 9: Financial Reporting for Pennsylvania Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) .............................. 86

FINANCIAL REPORTING OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................................... 86 DEFINING THE FINANCIAL REPORTING ENTITY ...................................................................................................... 87

PRIMARY GOVERNMENT .......................................................................................................................................... 87 COMPONENT UNITS ................................................................................................................................................. 88 JOINT VENTURES .................................................................................................................................................. 89 DEFINED .................................................................................................................................................................... 89 REPORTING ............................................................................................................................................................... 90 OTHER TYPES OF JOINT ARRANGEMENTS ............................................................................................................. 90 JOINTLY GOVERNED ORGANIZATIONS ..................................................................................................................... 90 POOL ......................................................................................................................................................................... 90 UNDIVIDED INTERESTS IN JOINT OPERATIONS......................................................................................................... 91 COST-SHARING AGREEMENTS .................................................................................................................................. 91 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING PURSUANT TO GASB ......................................................................................... 91 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR PENNSYLVANIA LEAS..................................................................................91 THE AFR CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING: ..................................................................................................................... 92 TYPES OF AUDITS ................................................................................................................................................. 93 FINANCIAL AUDITS.................................................................................................................................................... 93 SINGLE AUDITS.......................................................................................................................................................... 94 AUDITOR GENERAL AUDITS ...................................................................................................................................... 94 CALCULATIONS COMPLETED BY OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER OPERATIONS..............................................................94 TUITION RATE CERTIFICATION.................................................................................................................................. 94 ACTUAL INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSE (AIE) .................................................................................................................. 95

Chapter 10: Advanced Accounting Issues............................................................................................... 96

ACCOUNTING CHANGES ....................................................................................................................................... 96

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CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE ....................................................................................................................... 96 CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING ESTIMATE ....................................................................................................................... 97 CHANGE IN THE REPORTING ENTITY ........................................................................................................................ 98 PRIOR-PERIOD ADJUSTMENTS.................................................................................................................................. 98 CORRECTION OF AN ERROR ...................................................................................................................................... 99 EXTRAORDINARY AND SPECIAL ITEMS..................................................................................................................99 DEFINED .................................................................................................................................................................... 99 CRITERIA ................................................................................................................................................................... 99 REPORTED............................................................................................................................................................... 100 ESCHEAT PROPERTY ........................................................................................................................................... 100 DEFINED .................................................................................................................................................................. 100 REPORTED............................................................................................................................................................... 100

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Chapter 1: Introduction

Introduction

The State Constitution declares "The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth." To carry out this mandate the General Assembly has established a public school system and authorized the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to administer school laws and assist LEAs in providing educational programming to Pennsylvanians.

The mission of the PDE is to assist the General Assembly, the Governor, the Secretary of Education and Pennsylvania educators in providing for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of education. This includes ensuring proper financial reporting.

Additional information on the PDE can be found at: education.

The Office of Comptroller Operations (OCO) is part of the Office of the Budget of the Commonwealth of PA. The OCO works with the PDE in assisting the Secretary of Education and Governor in enforcing established policies and standards regulating the expenditure of public funds. Within the OCO is the Bureau of Accounting and Financial Management (BAFM), and within the BAFM is the Central Agencies & School Finance Unit (CA&SF Unit). School Finance is responsible for the collection, processing, and review of the AFR-Annual Financial Report (PDE forms 2056 and 2057). Other administrative functions include the maintenance of a uniform accounting manual and the Chart of Accounts and ensuring proper financial reporting in accordance with Sections 2-218 and 9-921A of Public School Code of 1949 (School Code), which states "...all financial accounting and reporting by Pennsylvania Local Educational Agencies (LEAs - school districts, charter schools, area vocationaltechnical schools/career technology centers and intermediate units) shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting and reporting standards..." Information gathered from AFRs is used to calculate tuition rates and actual instructional expense, as well as, produce reports requested by the federal government.

Additional Information on the CA&SF Unit can be found at: education.; under Teachers and Administrators/School Finances/Office of Comptroller Operations.

Purpose

The Office of Comptroller Operations (OCO) has compiled this manual as a financial reporting resource, as well as, to provide a uniform and standardized framework for reporting financial data to the state. It is essential for financial reporting to be consistent for LEAs. The manual captures and illustrates imperative accounting and financial reporting requirements of Pennsylvania public elementary and secondary school systems in accordance with recognized generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for governmental entities and state laws and regulations.

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Additionally, the OCO maintains the Chart of Accounts for Pennsylvania LEAs which is provided in a separate manual. This manual includes an account code structure that is modeled after the current, Financial Accounting for Local and State School Systems: 2014 Edition (NCES 2015-347). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. The Chart of Accounts coincides with the guidance provided in this manual. We have established a standard account code structure that allows for the accumulation of program costs at the level of detail the school administration chooses. The Chart of Accounts is also located on PDEs web-site under Office of Comptroller as listed above.

History

The last major revision to this manual was in 2005 with an interim update issued on July 1, 2010 to reflect changes related to Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) No. 54. Since 2005, there have been numerous changes to GASB Statements and the Annual Financial Report (AFR) requirements. These changes along with changing responsibilities of the CA&SFU and the increased availability of information on PDE's web-site has prompted this version of the manual which focuses more on general GASB rules and specific AFR reporting requirements.

Therefore, the primary changes reflected in this manual include:

? Changes to the Annual Financial Report (AFR) filing requirements as described in Sections 218 & 921-A of the School Code revised November 17, 2010. This change eliminated entitywide financial statements within the AFR as well Notes and the management's discussion and analysis.

? Removal of the budget chapter. ? GASB Statement updates, with emphasis on those Statements impacting AFR filing. Most

significantly: o GASB Statement No. 63, Financial Reporting of Deferred Outflows of Resources, Deferred Inflows of Resources, and Net Position o GASB Statement No. 65, Items Previously Reported as Assets and Liabilities

Organizations Instrumental in Local Educational Agency Financial Accounting & Reporting

Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)

The GASB is the independent organization that establishes and improves standards of accounting and financial reporting for United States' state and local governments. The generally accepted accounting and reporting guidance included in this manual began with the National Council on Governmental Accounting, Statement No. 1, Governmental Accounting and Financial Reporting Principles, and were adopted by the GASB in 1984 in their first pronouncement, GASB Statement No. 1.

Accounting personnel should be familiar with the principles and statements issued by the GASB that are available in its publication titled Codification of Governmental Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards.

This publication and additional information on GASB can be found at:

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